Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Today's Headlines

Thursday’s Headlines: Just Asking Edition

Can anyone tell us why Mayor Adams decided to defend the Pope for using a gay smear? Plus other news.

Mayor Adams hosted a Jewish heritage night on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, he defended the Pope’s use of a gay smear.

|Photo: Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office

It's a bit off topic for us, but can anyone tell us why Mayor Adams decided to defend the Pope for using a gay smear?

Like, what's to be gained by defending something so needlessly offensive? What constituency (beyond unrepentant homophobe Ruben Diaz Sr., perhaps?) is Hizzoner courting?

I mean, I can sit here and defend Jorge Lopez's glove-throwing tantrum yesterday at Citi Field — he was frustrated, and the Mets have been stinking up the National League for a month now — but I can't defend a New York City mayor who offers aid and comfort to a Pontiff using anti-gay hate speech.

Then again, what else should we expect from the man who said that new immigrants should be lifeguards because they must be good swimmers to have gotten here?

The Daily News had the story.

Moving on, here's the news:

  • The rumors were true and the denial was pretty transparent: NYC Transit President Richard Davey is headed to Beantown. We always found him personable and straightforward, so congrats to him if that's what he wants. (NYDN, The City)
  • Demetrius Crichlow, who currently heads the subways division of New York City Transit, will take over as interim president. (amNY)
  • What the car-loving New York Times calls "a life unencumbered by self-consciousness or regret" is just an asshole with a loud car who is terrorizing his neighbors.
  • Speaking of America's car dependency writ stupid, a driver with a suspended license called into his court hearing ... from behind the wheel of his moving car. (TMZ)
  • An anti-Semite chose a car as a weapon in Brooklyn. (NYDN, NY Post)
  • And another pedestrian was killed by a reckless driver in The Bronx. (NY Post)
  • Gothamist took a ride on a luxury bus to the Hamptons.
  • City Limits had a great open streets op-ed by Friends of Streetsblog Jackson Chabot, Elana Ehrenberg and Rebecca Macklis with the simplest of takeaways: "New Yorkers should be able to dance in the streets, sidewalks, and curbs if they want to.”
  • Here's the first really good argument to ban TikTok (or at least alert Mayor Adams that someone is dunking all over him):
  • Office? Schmoffice. Return to work rates are flagging. (Crain's)
  • Then again, who needs the office with these LIRR beach travel deals? (Crain's)
  • Thank God that Gwynn Hogan did the horseshoe crab mating story. That used to be my old beat at the Brooklyn Paper. (The City)
  • And, finally, what the hell? A person being photographed in Soho got more than she wanted for her modeling portfolio — but also captured a typical day in New York City, where there are roughly 250 reported crashes per day:

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

SNOWPOCALYPSE 2026 UPDATE: Mamdani Admin Travel Ban, More Shovelers Shows Expanded Response To This Storm

Mayor Mamdani all but admitted on Monday that his administration’s response to the latest blizzard was informed by his somewhat-criticized performance during the first storm of his tenure.

February 23, 2026

Gov. Hochul Is Playing With Toys — And The Facts — In Latest ‘Propaganda’ Video on Car Insurance: Lawyers

The governor is still fighting to make it cheaper to drive with a reform that would reduce compensation to some crash victims.

February 23, 2026

Monday’s Headlines: Whiteout Conditions Edition

Lyft promised to have more crews shoveling out Citi Bikes this week than it did after January's storm. Plus more news.

February 23, 2026

STATE OF EMERGENCY UPDATE: Road Travel Ban Continues, Trains in Trouble

No travel on roads after 9 p.m., though Streetsblog's Emergency Weather Desk is now predicting 12 to 14 inches as of 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Check back for updates.

February 22, 2026

Gov. Hochul Just Says ‘Way-No’ to Driverless Cabs Across NYS

The governor made the shocking choice to reverse her budget proposal that allowed companies like Waymo to expand throughout the state.

February 20, 2026

Friday Video: How Many ‘Better Billion’ Plans Are There?

Apparently, there are lots of better ways to spend $1 billion.

February 20, 2026
See all posts